Folding tables



March 13, 1962 H. HoWE FOLDING TABLES T 1 al- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OC. 18, 1960 zur if 45j 4,18

March 13, 1962 H, HoWE 3,025,120

FOLDING TABLES Filed OCt. 18, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR EY nited States Patent Patented Mar'. 13, 1962 dice 3,025,120 FOLDING TABLES Harold Howe, Rowayton, Conn., assignor to Howe Foldn ing Furniture, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Det. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 63,422 7 Claims. (fCl. 311-92) This invention relates to folding tables the legs of which are mounted on wheels, and particularly to improved means for preventing inadvertent and undesired movement of the unfolded table across a iioor.

An object of the invention is to provide a folding table with means for frictionally engaging a Hoor surface which is actuated automatically when the table is unfolded.

The invention will best be understood if the following description is read in connection With the drawings, in which,

FIGURE l is a perspective view looking at one side and one end of a table,

FIGURE 2 is an end view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1, partly broken away to show portions of both support means,

FIGURE 3 is a detail perspective view,

FIGURE 4 is a detail view partly in section, taken o the line 4*-4 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 5 is a detail View partly in section of a rotating sleeve and its mounting,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary bottom perspective View showing the table top parts interconnected by V-forming links which are bent inwardly so that the lower ends of one pair approach the inner ends of the other pair, and

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the link structure shown in FIGURE 6.

The table structure shown herein comprises two top parts 10 and 12 hinged together at their inner ends by the hinges 14 so that they may be moved from a folded position, in which the parts are disposed in substantially abutting end to end relation, to a folded position in which the top parts are disposed in adjacent and substantially parallel planes. A pair of parallel angle members 16 and 18 are provided on the under surface of top part 10 and a similar pair of parallel angle members 20 and 22 are provided on the under surface of top part 12. The leaves 14a and 14h of hinges 14 are secured to the aligned inner ends of members 16 and 20, and 18 and 22 respectively, and are joined by a pivot pin or pintle 24.

Adjacent each side of the table a pair of first links 26 and 28 are provided, pivotally attached at their upper ends to the top parts 1t) and 12 respectively, at similar distances from the inner ends of the top parts, as by attachment to angle members 16 and 20, and 18 and 22 respectively, and at their lower ends both sets of links 26 and 28 are pivoted to a common pivot or pintle rod 30, which extends transversely of the top below the hinge line of the top, forming V-shaped means interconnecting the top parts at their inner ends and having their apices beneath, and vertically in line with, the pintles 24 of the hinges interconnecting the top parts.

Instead of two pairs of first links a single pair may be used in which case the links will preferably be attached to the top parts along the longitudinal center line of the parts respectively.

The outer ends of the top parts are supported on support means hinged to the top parts adjacent their outer ends respectively and each comprising a rotatable cross bar. As shown herein, the support means are inverted U-members, the intermediate portions of which are rotatably mounted in tubular bearings provided on the under surface of the table top respectively adjacent their outer ends, and the end portions of the support means are legs which are turned outwardly in opposite directions adjacent their lower ends and are attached to casters on wheels w on which the table may be moved in folded and partly folded positions.

The support means attached to the top part 1t) comprises the intermediate portion 34 which is rotatably mounted in tubular bearings 38 provided on the under surface of top half 1t! and the end portions which are legs 32 and 36. Extending between the legs 32 and 36 adjacent their lower ends is a sleeve or rotator 42 the ends of which are closed by plugs p screwed on to the ends of screws 39 which extend through the legs 32 and 36 respectively.

Similarly the support means pivotally attached to top part f2 is an inverted U-member comprising legs 46 and Sil, and the intermediate portion 48 which is rotatably mounted on the under surface of the top half 12 in the manner described in connection with the support means for the outer end of top part 10. Extending between the legs 46 and 50 s a rotatable sleeve or rotator 52 which is mounted in the same Way as rotator 42. Each rotator rotates on the shank of the plugs p which close its ends.

Projecting from one or both of the rotators 42 and 52 is a finger which engages the floor when the table is unfolded. As shown a finger 44 projects from and rotates with rotator 42 and a nger S4 projects from and rotates with the rotator 52. Fingers 44 and S4 may be enlarged at their outer ends and have contact surfaces of rubber or other material adapted to frictionally engage the licor.

A pair of second links 56 and 58 are provided extending between the pintle rod 3d and the rotators 42 and 52Vr'espectively. Links 56 and 53 are mounted for rotation on the pintle rod 3f) and fixed to the rotators 42 and 52 respectively. As shown herein the inner ends of links 56 and 58 are welded to sleeves 57 and 59 which are free to rotate on the pintle rod 3f).

In FIGURES 6 and 7 the links 26 and 28 of each set of V-forming links are shown bent inwardly with their lower ends pivotally interconnected on a pintle rod 30" similar to pintle rod 3() but shorter than pintle rod 3i). Thus one set of links 26', 28' is bent inwardly toward the other set of links 26', 2S and the lower ends of the two sets are pivoted at opposite ends of the pintle rod 39. The sleeves 57 and 59' are similarly shorter. The modified structure shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 is desirable in some cases to provide additional knee room.

As the table is folded upwardly from the center of the top the links S6 and 58 pull the lower ends of the legs 32 `and A36, and 46 and 50, inwardly, and as the angle of the links 56 and 58 changes the rotators 42 and 52 are rotated and elevate the fingers 44 and 54 out of frictional engagement with the surface on which the table is supported. As this surface is usually a floor on which the wheels or casters w move easily there is little resistance to movement of the table when the members 44 and 54 are not frictionally engaging the floor. This is an advantage in `moving the table when it is folded or partly folded. However when the table is unfolded and in use the fingers 44 and 54 perform a very useful function in preventing inadvertent and undesired moving of the table. If it is desired to change the position of the table while it is in use it is only necessary to initiate folding movement to disengage members 44 and S4 from the floor surface. The positioning of fingers 44 and 54 `to make them operative or to disengage them from the lioor surface is done automatically since they are initially disposed on the rotators at the correct rotary angle to engage the floor only `when the table is substantially fully unfolded. The rotators 42 and 52 and their fingers 44 and 54 respectively thus provide a valuable improvement of folding table structures, such, for example, as that disclosed in my Patent 1,808,305 issued June 2, 1931, especially when this structure is employed in a longer table such as that disclosed herein.

There has thus been provided a structure in which the objects stated above are accomplished in a thoroughly practical manner.

What I claim is:

1. A folding table comprising two top parts hinged together for movement between ya position in which the parts are aligned in substantially abutting relation in unfolded position to a position in which the parts are disposed in substantially parallel vertical planes in folded position, a pair of legs mounted on wheels and pivotally attached to each part adjacent its outer end, each pair of legs being interconnected and spaced apart by a cross rod member extending transversely of the table and rotatable around its longitudinal taxis, a rst pair of links pivotally connected at one end to the top parts respectively and pivotally `connected together at the other end, and a second pair of links pivotally connected `at one end to the first links respectively, and iixedly connected at the other end to the cross rods of said pairs of legs respectively, and oor engageable fingers projecting from said rotatable cross rods respectively at a rotary angle such that the fingers are out of contact with the floor when the table is folded yand contact and frictionally engage the iioor when `the table is unfolded.

2. A folding table comprising two top parts hinged together for movement between a position in which the parts are aligned in substantially abutting relation in unfolded position to a position in which the parts are disposed in substantially parallel vertical planes in folded position, a pair of legs mounted on wheels and pivotally attached to each top part adjacent its outer end, each pair of legs having a cross rod extending transverselyv of the table, means for mounting the cross rods for rotation around their axes respectively, a pair of first links pivotally connected at one end to the top parts respectively, and pivotally connected at the other end to a common pintle, and a pair of second links pivotally connected at one end to said pintle, and iixedly connected at the other end to the rotatable cross rods of said pairs of legs respectively, and means disposed on and projecting from said rotatable cross rods respectively in a position such that as the table is folded and unfolded they rotate with said cross rods from a position in which they engage the iioor w-hen the table is unfolded and move out of engagement with the floor as the table is folded.

3. The table structure claimed in claim 2 in which a plurality of pairs of first links are provided and the pintle means joining each pair is a common pintle rod and the second links lare respectively pivoted on said pintle rod.

4. A folding table comprising two top parts hinged together for movement between a position in which the parts are disposed in substantially parallel vertical planes in folded position to a position in which the parts are disposed in a common plane in unfolded position, leg means mounted on wheels and pivotally attached to each top part adjacent its outer end, each leg means comprising a rotatable member extending transversely of the table, and means disposed on and projecting from said rotatable member rand adapted in one rotary position of said member to frictionally engage the surface on which the table is supported, a pair of first links pivotally connected at one end to the top parts respectively, and pivotally connected at the other end to a common pintle, and a pair of second links pivotally connected at one end to said pintle, and iixedly connected at the other end to the rotatable members respectively, and means disposed on .and projecting from said rotatable members respectively in a position such that as the table is folded `and unfolded they rotate with said rotatable members from a position in which they engage said surface when the table is unfolded to a position out of engagement with said surface when the table is folded.

5. A folding table comprising two top parts hinged together for movement between a position in which the parts are valigned in substantially abutting relation in unfolded position to a position in which the parts are disposed in substantially parallel vertical planes in folded position, a pair of legs mounted on wheels and pivotally attached to each top part adjacent its outer end, each pair of legs having a cross rod extending transversely of the table, means for mounting the cross rods for rotation around their axes respectively, a pair of first links pivotally connected at one end to the top parts respectively, and pivotally connected yat the other end to a common pintle, and a pair of second links pivotally connected at one end to said pintle, and iixedly connected at the other end to the rotatable cross rods of said leg means respectively, and fingers projecting from said rotatable cross rods respectively in a position such that Vas the table is folded they rotate with said cross rods and move out of engagement with the surface upon which the table is supported and when the table is unfolded they rotate with said cross rods and move into engagement with said surface.

6. A folding table comprising two top parts hinged together for movement between a position in which the parts are aligned in substantially abutting relation in unfolded position to a position in which the parts are disposed in substantially parallel vertical planes in folded position, a pair of legs mounted on wheels and pivotally attached to each top part adjacent its outer end, each pair of legs having a cross rod extending transversely of the table, means for mounting the cross rods for rotation around their 4axes respectively, a pair of iirst links pivotally connected at one end to the top parts respectively, and pivotally connected at the other end to a common pintle, and a pair of second links pivotally connected at one end to said pintle, and ixedly connected at the other end to the rotatable cross rods of said pairs of legs respectively, and means disposed on and projecting from said rotatable members respectively in a position such that as the table is folded and unfolded they rotate with said cross rods and engage the floor when the table is unfolded and move out of engagement with the floor as the table is folded.

7. A folding table comprising two top parts hinged together for movement between a position in which the parts are aligned in substantially abutting relation in unfolded position to a position in which the parts are disposed in substantially parallel vertical planes in folded position, a pair of legs mounted on wheels and pivotally attached to each top part adjacent its outer end, each pair of legs having a cross rod extending transversely of the table, means for mounting the cross rods for rotation around their axes respectively, a pair of iirst links pivotally connected at one end to the top parts respectively, and pivotally connected at the other end to a common pintle, and a pair of second links pivotally connected at one end to said pintle and fixedly connected at the other end to the rotatable cross rods of said pairs of legs respectively, -and meansvdisposed on and projecting Ifrom said rotatable cross rods respectively in a position such that as the table is folded and unfolded they rotate with said rotatable members and move out of engagement with the Hoor when the table begins to fold, and move into engagement with the floor as the table becomes fully unfolded.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,890,710 Williams Dec. 13, 1932 2,747,958 Wilson May 29, 1956 2,764,460 Nelson Sept. 25, 1956` 2,831,741 Wilson Apr. 22, 1958 2,911,217 Hirsch et al. Nov. 3, 1959 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentI No. 3,025,120 March 13, 1962 Harold Howe It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the drawings, Fig. 4, for numeral "20" reed numeral 22 Figo 6, for numeral "20" read Signed and sealed this 3rd day of July 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. swIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

